With Tasting Room/Winemaker’s Library Patio
Located above San Pasqual Valley’s San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido’s Highland Valley Wine Country. Altipiano is a boutique family, veteran owned and operated vineyard and winery surrounded by Denise & Peter’s Tuscan Villa complete with an indoor tasting room, winemaker’s library and a winery production facility. Surrouded by shaded outdoor patio seating, fountains and terraced gardens line the handsome Tuscan-inspired property that invites guests to sit, sip and take in the majestic and compelling landscape. Denise released her first wines in 2012. Her focus as a winemaker is on Italian varietals, to include Estate Sangiovese (Brunello Clone), Estate Barbera, Aglianico, Primitivo, Nero D’Avola, Super Tuscan, other varietals include, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Merlot, and Syrah. Tasting Room opened Saturday and Sunday Noon to Sunset (Winter Hours), (Spring/Summer Noon-6pm). Winery is 21 years or older. Walkins are welcome, groups 8 or more call the winery.
Grenache Rosé, White Wine Margarita, Red Wine Sangria served on a shaded courtyard or inside the air conditioned tasting room. Picnics can be ordered for delivery 24 hours in advance of your visit from our web site, or BYO.
We are open 7 days a week!
Mon-Wed 2-6pm
Thur-Sat 2-8pm
Sun 12-5pm
Family-owned boutique vineyard and winery located in Ramona, California
HISTORY
In 2009, John Saunders, his wife Marion, along with their son Ben, embarked on the journey to revive a wildfire-affected property on the outskirts of the Ramona Valley wine region. Their vision was to plant several acres of Italian red wine grape varietals, inspired from several trips to Italy – imbibing in some of the world’s best wines. They understood the similarities between Ramona Valley’s terroir and many of the regions they visited in Italy. Convinced they could produce wines of similar caliber, they planted their first 2,500 vines.
WINEMAKING
John’s extensive background in pharmaceutical chemistry greatly influences his winemaking approach. He is dedicated to the scientific method – continuously experimenting with new techniques in the wine cellar, whilst still retaining ‘old world’ Italian winemaking traditions.
VITICULTURE
The first plantings of grape vines at Poppaea took place in 2010. The family selected 6 Italian red varietals to work with: Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Barbera, Primitivo and Sagrantino.
In an effort to achieve balance in a tasting menu of predominantly red wine offerings, the decision to increase the allocation of red grapes dedicated to the production of Rosé wine, along with the first plantings of Vermentino in 2021, proved a major success. This prompted the expansion of Vermentino plantings in 2023.
The vineyard totals about 4 1/2 planted acres of wine grapes, surrounded by native and introduced plant species designed to encourage pollinators and beneficial fauna.
TASTE OUR WINE
Please join us for a 5-pour tasting paddle featuring our current wine offerings of Italian varietals. All of our wines are crafted from estate-grown fruit.
OUR SPACE
We provide both indoor and outdoor seating, the latter featuring a stunning view overlooking Ramona Valley and Mt. Woodson peak. We also offer a more private, shaded tasting area, which we call “The Island”. In addition, we have a picnic table located in our experimental vineyard block, which you are welcome to use.
You are encouraged to bring your own food to compliment your wine tasting experience.
We are a dog-friendly establishment.
HOURS
We are open Fridays 2-5pm and Saturdays-Sundays 12-6pm.
Boutique winery at the west end of Ramona, open Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 and Fridays by appointment. Our award winning wines include Estate Sangiovese, Estate Tempranillo, Estate Sangiovese (brunello clone), Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, GSM, Syrah, Rose, Sangria, Red Blends and Grenache. We offer a relaxing tasting experience. Bring lunch or snacks and stay awhile.
We make all of the wines we sell, and all of our wines are made from grapes grown either onsite or in vineyards within 1.5 miles from the winery as the crow flies. At Sunrise Vineyards you get a wine that truly reflects the Ramona Valley American Viticultural Area (and more specifically, the west side of the AVA). Stop by to experience how good local can be
Saturdays: Noon-sunset
Sundays: Noon-sunset
Summertime Sips: June Rosé Case Special!
2021 Blush
Our new wine press enabled us to make rosé in the “direct press method”. This means the grapes are sent directly to the press and the juice is quickly strained off from the grape skins. Our rosé is crisp and has a pleasing combination of citrus and minerality. The perfect summertime sip.
In the Spring of 2009, the first three acres were planted at Vineyard Grant James, and now there are seven and a half acres planted on our beautiful property. Our vineyard, with sweeping views of the valley, is ideally situated for growing and harvesting a variety of grapes. Our main varietals include Syrah, Merlot, Sangiovese, Orange Muscat, Greco, Refosco and Nebbiolo.
At Vineyard Grant James, we strive to express the purest form of wine. When you drink a Vineyard Grant James wine, we want you to feel the sense of place and hard work that went into making that bottle the best. We use all of our estate grapes, as well as source grapes from other local vineyards in Ramona Valley. We want to keep Ramona wine pure and focus on the boutique quality that stays true to the region.
Come taste the beauty of Vineyard Grant James wine on our stone veranda overlooking our Sangiovese vineyard and the hills of the Ramona Valley. You will be welcomed with pure hospitality and have the opportunity to experience luxury wine in a perfect relaxed countryside setting. We hope that you come to visit us in Ramona, California for the chance to enjoy our wine and share in the simple pleasures of good wine and good people.
While you’re here be sure to try our popular and award winning wines, including: Viognier, Rose of Syrah, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Nebbiolo, Merlot, Syrah and Petite Sirah.
